Calls to Stop Imminent Round of Executions in Indonesia

Julian McMahon, one of the lawyers for the Bali Nine drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran who were executed in 2015, warned last week that more executions were imminent in Indonesia. His address to the Castan Centre's Human Right Law conference in Melbourne last week about recent developments regarding capital punishment in Indonesia and the Philippines was timely indeed.

Indonesia is apparently to go ahead with a new round of executions in coming days. Many of the prisoners have been convicted of drug offences.

McMahon spoke of the "logic of executions in our region" being "political gain".

He argued that, "the death penalty is part of a growing zeitgeist [mood]... a desire to be seen as tough and merciless."

"The whole debate is purely political..." with "Indonesia working in countries around the world to save its citizens on death row... with no other country as successful, as determined or hardworking in saving its own citizens". He pointed out that the Indonesian government claims that in the last 5 years 285 have been saved, including drug offenders.

He argued that the situation in Indonesia must be seen through the "prism of domestic politics with drugs used to distract from other problems".

He hoped that we can "move on the debate" by "assisting Indonesia as much as possible in fighting these drug problems".

The full audio of his presentation can be heard here.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has voiced its strong opposition:

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo of Indonesia should urgently commute the death sentences of at least 14 people who face imminent execution for drug trafficking...[He] should acknowledge the death penalty’s barbarity and avoid a potential diplomatic firestorm by sparing the lives of the 14 or more people facing imminent execution...

Amnesty International has joined the call to abandon the executions:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo... will be putting his government on the wrong side of history if he proceeds with a fresh round of executions... President Widodo’s era was supposed to represent a new start for human rights in Indonesia. Sadly, he could preside over the highest number of executions in the country’s democratic era at a time when most of the world has turned its back on this cruel practice...

You can add your voice by clicking on the link in their tweet:

More executions will undermine #humanrights leadership in #Indonesia https://t.co/ECxe6UiGnk #KeepHopeAlive @jokowi pic.twitter.com/HMxdw9Cbri

— Amnesty Australia (@amnestyOz) July 27, 2016

UPDATE:

Indonesia has executed the first four of 14 drug convicts on death row (BBC News)

Federal Government considering welfare card to limit spending on fast foods

The Australian Federal Government proposes to crackdown on the use of welfare payments at fast food outlets. This would be part of a new welfare card designed to stop people from spending the majority of their government benefits on alcohol, gambling and poor diet.

A trial is to take place involving fast food giants McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Coded named ‘No fries with that”, welfare recipients will be restricted to one unhappy meal per week per family.

The Minister responsible for the Obesity Epidemic, Kevin Morrison, is to join a fat finding mission to the United Kingdom next month. The British government is currently considering cutting welfare benefits to people who will not undergo treatment for drug problems and obesity.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Malcolm Trudge, insists that the card will not only apply to indigenous people. He has emphasised that, “it would not apply just to Indigenous people. It would be colour-blind. It would apply to everybody according to a set of criteria”. The installation of weighing machines in Centrelink offices could be the first step in establishing benchmarks.

As spokesperson for the Trans Fat National Foods Association, Colonel Ronald Sanders, has responded, “The government must weigh its options carefully. They cannot afford to clown around with people’s health”.

Tony Abbott's About-Face on Sexism, Two Years Late

My latest roundup for Global Voices Online: Australian Prime Minister's About-Face on Sexism, Two Years Late

A tense moment between Prime Minister Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (25 February 2012)
Copyright © Demotix. Photo by Angus Mordant

"There are doubts that the prime minister will be able to put the gender card back in the pack".

Burqa Banished Behind Glass

From my latest post for Global Voices Online: Burqa Banished Behind Glass in Australian Parliament

There have been strong reactions to a decision on 2 October 2014 by the presiding officers of the Australian parliament concerning the burqa.

The current controversy should be seen in the context of:

The raising of the National Terrorism Public Alert level from Medium to High, “that points to the increased likelihood of a terrorist attack”.

High profile security raids with subsequent terrorism charges.

The stabbing of two police officers by a Muslim youth who was shot dead.

Australia’s military participation in the coalition against the so-called Islamic State.

New, tougher anti-terrorism laws that have been condemned by some as striking “at the heart of press freedom”.

Twitter was ablaze with lots of opposition to and some support for the proposal.

More

Military Pulls Rank in Thailand

From Brad Adams, Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch:

While there has been sporadic violence in recent months, nationwide martial law was not necessary to prevent further violence. The military has pulled a 100 year old law off the shelf that makes the civilian administration subordinate to the military, effectively rendering the executive, legislative and judicial branches powerless. The broad powers conferred on the military mean that there are no legal safeguards against rights violations and no remedies for any damage caused by the army. Censorship and shutting down of both anti-government and pro-government satellite TV channels and radio networks raises serious concerns that freedom of expression will be the first victim of de facto coup. Thailand's friends in the world's capitals should make it clear that they expect this de facto coup to be reversed immediately.

Thailand is using a century old law with draconian provisions that permit the military to exercise essentially unlimited authority to violate human rights if they are so inclined. There are basically no brakes in this law - the authorities can prohibit any activity, censor the media, outlaw meetings and assemblies, search and seize any item, hold people without trial for up to 7 days, and even compel forced labor. Opportunities for justice are minimal since the law provides for the use of military courts to try cases. It's a law that pre-dates the creation of all international human rights standards, and it shows.

Textor's Twitter Farce Follows Revelations of Australia Spying on Indonesian President

"...we now have #Textor’s Law: the most social media savvy spin doctors are only 140 characters away from their inevitable brain snap. It has something to do with wishing you could eat your words."

My latest post for Global Voices looks at the extraordinary twitter moments of Mark Textor
Twitter Farce Follows Revelations of Australia Spying on Indonesian President:

It has taken a “conservative political and communications strategist” to catch the imagination of netizens during the current diplomatic standoff between Australia and Indonesia over spying revelations. Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has tweeted to protest phone tapping by Australia's Defence Signals Directorate, which included his and his wife's phones in 2009.

On 20 November 2013 Mark Textor, pollster and political tactician for Australia’s ruling Liberal Party, experienced one of those twitter moments: ‘Apology demanded from Australia by a bloke who looks like a 1970s Pilipino porn star and has ethics to match’. [The misspelling is his own.] It was an apparent reference to the Indonesian foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa.

His deletion of the offending tweet did not save Textor from embarrassment.

[Reactions from the Oz twitterverse...]

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Tony Abbott Downplays Sri Lankan Torture Allegations

From my latest post for Global Voices Online:

Australians have been flabbergasted by the contrast between two conservative Prime Ministers over Sri Lanka’s human rights record, namely their own PM Tony Abbott and the UK’s David Cameron.

Cameron put Sri Lanka on notice over war crimes allegations. PM Abbott was far more conciliatory:

"The Australian Government deplores any use of torture. Sometimes, in difficult circumstances, difficult things happen. The important thing is to act as quickly as you can to bind up the nation's wounds."

Many onliners took these remarks at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo [CHOGM] to be tacit approval of human rights violations including torture.

More: Australian Prime Minister Downplays Sri Lankan Torture Allegations

Jeremy Bird at #Progress2013: 'Brick by Brick' Organising

Jeremy Bird's talk to Progress 2013 at the Melbourne Town Hall on 8 Nov 2013: 'Brick by Brick' The Nitty Gritty Organising Work That Turned Out Obama's Coalition

Jeremy speaks about the Democrats grassroots campaigning in 2012. It was based on neighbourhood team leaders organising local volunteers in 5177 locations across the United States. "They turned out voters that they knew."

He emphasised the importance of both using innovative online technologies and reaching individuals face-to-face. Community campaigns must invest in organisers on the ground and in their training.

He stressed why winning matters. It is "about the people we are trying to serve, to organise; about the world you are trying to leave to your grandkids." "Too many organisations rely on broadcast media and treat voters as consumers of a product." It should be about real relationships and talking to people individually.

[I represented Global Voices Online at Progress 2013.]

My ‘Top’ Ten Tweets from #Progress2013 Day One

My quick picks from the hundreds of tweets from Day 1 of the Progress 2013 conference on 7 November at Melbourne Town Hall:

@JaneCaro welcomes the liberals, the lefties, the tree huggers and the femi-nazis, among others, to #Progress2013

— Rachael Vincent (@rachaelvincent) November 6, 2013

Scott Rankin: It's harder to hurt someone if you know their story #Progress2013
— Hugh de Kretser (@HughdeKretser) November 7, 2013

The space of political ideas is not elections - Anat #truth #stilldepressing #Progress2013
— Holly Creenaune (@hollycreenaune) November 7, 2013

If we want social change we need to make invisible issues visible #Progress2013
— Avis Mulhall (@avismulhall) November 7, 2013

Never underestimate the ability of the legal profession to complicate a relatively simple concept, says Peter Cashman #Progress2013
— Alicia Patterson (@AliciaMarie1970) November 7, 2013

There are many things beyond our control. 1 of the things we can control is how we communicate. We need to get better at that. #progress2013
— David Hood (@DavidAHood) November 7, 2013

'For climate change messaging: Generate sense of urgency, not crisis. Freak people out & it will make them more conservative' #progress2013
— Amber Carvan (@ambercarvan) November 7, 2013

I look forward to a day when people don't have to rely on charity because they can rely on justice. @VinniesAust's @JohnFalzon #progress2013
— David Hood (@DavidAHood) November 7, 2013

Use the base - the true believers - to energise and persuade the middle (rather than fight the opposition. Makes sense. #Progress2013
— Alicia Patterson (@AliciaMarie1970) November 7, 2013

Wilkinson: Health and social problems are worse in countries where economic inequality is biggest. #progress2013
— timhollo (@timhollo) November 6, 2013

Day 2 awaits.

A Must Watch: Stop Watching Us

From The Electronic Frontier Foundation in the U.S.:

"StopWatching.us is a coalition of more than 100 public advocacy organizations and companies from across the political spectrum. Join the movement at https://rally.stopwatching.us. This video harnesses the voices of celebrities, activists, legal experts, and other prominent figures in speaking out against mass surveillance by the NSA. Please share widely to help us spread the message that we will not stand for the dragnet surveillance of our communications.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a nonprofit civil liberties law and advocacy center that has been fighting the NSA's unconstitutional spying for years. Learn more at https://eff.org."

Support the National Day of Climate Action 17 November 2013

GetUp! are organising a National Day of Climate Action on 17 November 2013:

"The last month was the hottest on record.
The last 12 months were the hottest on record.
The last summer was the hottest on record, breaking 120 records.
This year? Summer has come early and bushfires are burning.

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott and our new Government are already going backwards on climate change. They've cut the climate department, abolished the Climate Commission, and are getting ready to try repeal a price on pollution and renewable energy funding.
Politicians have severely underestimated how much Australians care about climate change. Right now, it is more important than ever before that we make it clear that the majority of Australians want climate action.

Chip in at www.getup.org.au/climateaction and help us make this massive climate action project a reality."

Spin the Voter Propaganda Wheel: Power & Persuasion

Play the Spin the Voter Propaganda Wheel

Propaganda: Power and Persuasion is an exhibition at the British Library, London
(17 May - 17 September 2013)

The Basic Techniques explored are:

Establish authority

Link a person or idea with existing symbols of power and authority, which people understand and are comfortable with. Using appropriate symbolism can generate deep psychological resonances.

Exploit existing beliefs

People are much more receptive to messages that build on attitudes and beliefs they already hold dear. Use this technique to play on class, cultural, religious and national stereotypes.

Appeal to patriotism

Play up to nationalist sentiments and emphasise benefits to the nation. People often fail to question ideas linked to the emotive but general sense of patriotism.

Create fear

In a state of fear your audience is more likely to believe you. This technique is particularly effective if you play on existing anxieties and prejudices against people, groups or behaviours.

Imply everyone agrees

The desire to fit in is a strong one and many people go along with the crowd. Combine with apparent plain speaking, an appeal to the ‘average’ person, and deliver in a style which suit your audience.

Disguise the source

Carefully plant stories and faces so that they come from an independent source your audience trusts. They will have less reason to question the messages your are spreading.

Use humour

Making your audience smile or laugh can make powerful people, countries and ideas seem less threatening and even ridiculous. Humour is particularly useful if you are politically weaker than your opponent.

Make false connections

Start with an uncontested statement and link it with something more controversial. Many people will not notice that there is no logical link between the two. Alternatively link a person or idea with a more general truism, either good or bad.

Be selective about the truth

Control how and when information is released. Ensure only stories that support your position are reported. Where an event is controversial, make sure only the facts and testimony that favour your interpretation are heard.

Hammer it home

Decide on your message and stick to it. Saturate your audience, repeating it in as many different media as you can mobilise. Constant repetition will overcome initial scepticism.

Establish a leadership cult

Encourage the population to think their leaser is solely responsible for all successes. Eventually more people may come to believe that their personal fate and that of the nation is inextricably bound up with that of the leader. For advanced practitioners only.

Spin the wheel above to choose a technique and then pick your favourite examples from Australian (or other countries') politics and/or election campaigning to match it. Responses can be added in comments below or using the hashtag #spinthevoter in a tweet or on Facebook. You might like to add the #auspol hashtag if there's room.

Thanks to: Sue Keogh at Sookio for the text of the British Library pamphlet & Wheel Decide for the template.